Archive for the ‘Beauty’ Category
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London spa break — part 2
One very relaxed spa-goer... alas not me! Photo credit: Thomas Wanhoff
Yesterday evening I went to the Purity Spa at London’s Park Lane Hilton for my £10 mini facial pampering treat, as it was billed on the voucher. And the verdict? Well, the facial was pleasant, but on the whole… you get what you pay for.
Posted in Beauty
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Save on your smile
Outside Smilepod in Covent Garden
Always on the lookout for a beauty bargain, my latest discovery is Smilepod, a new walk-in clinic in the heart of Covent Garden where trained dentists carry out a range of hygiene treatments, starting with a quick clean and polish for £35. Read full post
Posted in Beauty
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London spa break – part 1
When I first started writing for Oola Moola, a reader named Erin challenged me to find her a European spa weekend for under £250.
I checked with Erin to see where she was based and what she was looking for, and I’ve found, if not the main course she was after, certainly a tasty little starter: a £10 pampering treat at the Purity Spa, located in London’s Park Lane Hilton.
A rose petal bath... something I'd love to find at the spa. Photo credit: Dennis Wong
Each of the vouchers I bought (three, as I’ll take two friends) entitles the bearer to a mini facial and full use of the spa’s steam rooms. I think this is a fantastic deal. It suits me especially well as I would rather get in, have whatever treatment and then get out, as opposed to spend the day floating round various pools and breathing deeply. (On reflection, this may make me a more likely candidate for a relaxing spa break.)
I bought my voucher through lastminute.com, and when I went back to the site a day later to check availability before writing about it, I found that the offer was sold out. However, a quick spot of snooping revealed that all sorts of spa vouchers are available, so even if you can’t find my £10 deal for that specific spa, you should be able to fare very well indeed, with deals like 50% off mini treatments at Beauty Group salons, and two for one vouchers at spas nationwide, including two for one at the Purity Spa.
I won’t notch up my costs just yet as I will save that for part two of this post… the visit itself! We’re off to the spa later this month so stay tuned…
Posted in Beauty
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East London eyebrows
Several weeks ago I mentioned I was at work on a beauty challenge: find an East London locale for budget eyebrow threading. After several false starts – salons moving, services changing, and then my own blind panic, what with being a threading virgin and not really loving pain – I finally made good on my promise… and what’s more, it didn’t even hurt that much!
Adah, our reader, challenged me thusly: “I am looking for cheap eyebrow threading. I currently pay £17 but have paid £3 in the past but need somewhere near Greenwich or on the DLR route between Canary Wharf and Bank. Any recommendations?”
Posted in Beauty
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Eyebrow threading for £6
A little while back, SassyMoola mentioned a few new challenges we’re working on - Adah is looking for cheap eyebrow threading near Canary Wharf.
While Sassy is on the case, I wanted to share a little gem that I stumbled across in the Wimbledon area. It’s called Herbal World - and although you wouldn’t think so when strolling by this rather unassuming store on the street, they also offer Divine Beauty services…
Herbal World's store front
I don’t know what exactly caught my eye as I was passing, but for some reason I got curious. My gut feeling was telling me that something good was about to be discovered here. And I wasn’t disappointed! Read full post
Posted in Beauty
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7 lipsticks for the price of 1
I’m starting to wonder if up until now my expectations of a lipstick have been too low. Until recently, I was happy with a great colour, glossy shine and staying-power. I didn’t feel let down with just one shade, or wish my lipstick could save me valuable handbag space. Well, that was then. Things are different now – I’ve discovered the new hardworking SpectraColour by Avon. For pretty much the price of just one lipstick, I now have seven colours to choose from – it’s such a great idea I’m not sure why it’s taken so long!
The lipstick features a dark and light version of the shade. Twisting the dial at the bottom squeezes just the right amount of customised colour from the tube. Six colour options are available, including pink, nude, brown and lilac. Read full post
Posted in Beauty
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Make your own pottery for £12
Make your own pottery from OolaMoola on Vimeo.
My parents have been visiting the last two weeks to help me move. I needed to find something fun for us to do together as a family to thank them - the typical dinner out didn’t seem very creative (or affordable!). So when I came across Merton Abbey Mills‘ weekend market and learned about the £12 pottery classes in the Wheelhouse, I could not help but eying a massive opportunity to kill ‘three’ birds with one stone: Entertain the family, learn something new.. at the same time as adding some beautiful pottery to my glass cabinet.
Some of the beautiful pottery at Merton Abbey Mills
The classes are run by Stephen Llewellyn and cost only £12 per person for a 45 minutes session - this includes using the wheel, clay, as well as Stephen’s wonderful tutelage. As if that’s not enough, at the end of the session you’ll get to pick one of your masterpieces for firing and glazing, ready for pick up about 4 weeks later.
Pottery wheel
That’s me trying to shape the clay into something usable - with Stephen’s help. There’s a technique (or science?) to this - pressing the clay from the inside will force the clay to widen outwards, while adding pressure from the outside will make they clay rise upwards. Also - you’ve got to keep a very steady arm, using your right hand to shape the clay while your left hand should only to support your right hand so it keeps steady.
Mr. Teen gets help to shape the clay
Let me tell you - pottery is so much fun but it’s not easy at first! I find the whole concept of not using both hands very confusing, so I learned the hard way…
Doing it right - Doing it wrong..
The atmosphere in the Wheelhouse is historic and relaxed - dating back to 1885. Stephen was an amazing teacher, letting us know when we did well, and telling us not to worry when it all went awry: “It’s just a piece of clay,” he said with a smile as I tossed my fifth vase attempt in the recycle bin. Ay.
We had so much fun on our session. We even got to bring Flint The Wheaten to the session which was an added bonus to the family experience. My parents and Mr. Teen enjoyed themselves and they’re really excited to see the fnished result of their efforts when the clay has been glased and burned. Moolah well spent - so much better than a dinner out!
Below are a few of our finished pottery pieces that we get to pick up in about four weeks time. Don’t worry if you can’t choose just one of your beautiful creations though - you can have your other pottery glazed for only £3 per piece.
The results of our 45 min workshop!
I plan on going again soon - this is a great way to stock up precious Christmas presents (it’s never to early, is it?). And if you don’t want to bring your family around - it’s also a great start to a girl friend’s night out - or you can even bring a special date… there are excellent bars and restaurants in the area to visit afterwards.
Tip for you Londoners: There’s a festival in Colliers Wood this weekend. Get in line for a free ticket to try the pottery wheel this Saturday - show up around 10 to be sure you get on the wait list!
The Wheelhouse
Merton Abbey Mills
A24 Merantun Way (behind Sainsbury’s at Colliers Wood).
0208 647 0076 on weekdays/ 0208 543 6656 at weekends
Individual tuition is in a small group of up to four people. Classes are held from 11am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday, and at other times by arrangement.
The Wheelhouse accommodates only 4 people per session, so don’t leave the booking until it’s too late - two weeks in advance is usually enough time to get your reservation in.
http://www.stephenllewellynpottery.co.uk/
Posted in Bargains & Markets, Beauty, Crafting, Entertainment, Family
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DIY eyelash tinting - the ultimate in beauty on a budget
Last week I talked about how my ongoing beauty maintenance (tinting and shaping my ultra-blonde lashes and brows every four to six weeks) is a constant drain on my wallet. I’ve already given my beloved (but rather pricey) beauty therapist the flick after calculating that I was shelling out £720 over a 12 month period. So I visited the London College of Beauty Therapy for a much cheaper series of treatments that would cost a total of £180 over a year - a massive saving of £540!
But now I’m starting to wonder … can I go cheaper? And the answer, of course, is a resoundingly yes! I’ve been researching some DIY treatments, and found a home eyelash and brow dye kit from Boots. The best part? It costs the grand total of £7.10, and there’s apparently enough product to last for 12 months. Potentially a saving of another £172.90.
So I put the kit to the test tonight to see if it (a) was relatively straight-forward and easy to apply and (b) stands up to professional salon standards. The verdict? Not half bad. Granted, it was another beauty “chore” and involved a bit of time on my part, but it was really nothing compared to the time taken to actually get to and from salons in London.
Applying the tint itself was really easy, but I had to enlist the help of my husband to really get the job done right. So I would recommend calling a friend if you want to try it at home. And the results were quite good. Admittedly, the dye itself isn’t as dark as my usual therapist, but I might try topping it up again tomorrow. Considering I’m saving a grand total of £712.90 per annum, I’m not really complaining! Next up? My brows.
Total spent: £7.10/annum
Cost of eyelash and brow tinting over 12 months: £720
Total saved: £712.90/annumPosted in Beauty
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Challenge: Spend a whole day in London without spending a penny
Now this one is easy. Too easy, in fact, as London is one of those brilliant cities which is actually chockers with free stuff to do.
One of the most obvious places to start is London’s world-class museums and galleries, which unlike other cities around the world, offer free admission to many of their permanent collections. You could easily spend days wandering the capital’s great galleries without spending a penny. But there’s a chance you could suffer from a serious case of gallery fatigue. Plus there’s loads more to see and do. Here’s a sample itinerary of a full (free) day in London:
11am Free 80 minute yoga class
Dermalogica, KensingtonThe Dermalogica store in Kensington hosts a whole line-up of free health and well-being classes and workshops. Check online to see what’s coming up and book in advance.
1pm Take a packed lunch and picnic in the splendour of Kensington Gardens. People-watch, squirrel-watch and bird-watch for free.
2pm. Take in some culture and visit a free gallery or museum. The V&A Museum is nearby and houses an extensive collection of art and design.
4pm Get ready for a big night out with a free makeover at The Body Shop.
6pm. Go to a free taping of a TV show and spend the night with your favourite celebrities. Some of them even give you free booze! Apply well in advance for free tickets at the BBC or at Applause Store. Just keep in mind that you need to queue up very early for tickets on the night, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll get in.
9pm. Time to hit the (free) night clubs! Death Disco in at Notting Hills Arts Club is my pick of the bunch –with guest DJ sets (including the likes of Courtney Love, Tim Burgess, and Mercury Rev) and free live acts as well. (Wednesday nights only)
Posted in Beauty, Entertainment, Health & Fitness, Travel
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Beauty on a budget: where to get the cheapest treatments in London [Part 2]
I’m back with groomed brows, dark lashes and baring only a slight resemblance to a Jim Henson muppet (only kidding.) Actually, my brows are probably a wee bit darker than desirable but I totally hold myself responsible as I requested that they leave the tint on for longer than usual. Anyway…
My experience at London College of Beauty Therapy’s salon was actually overwhelmingly – and surprisingly – positive. After checking in at reception, I was taken through to my own private treatment room within the dazzlingly white, chandelier-bedecked professional salon.
As I was having the “trio” of treatments: eyelash tint, eyebrow tint and eyebrow shape, I was allocated three separate therapists. One for each treatment. Just a tiny departure from the usual salon experience. And I had to sign a helluva lot of disclaimer forms. Which isn’t so unusual. And although it did take slightly longer than usual, I was too busy saving money to really care.
At the end of the day I really couldn’t fault the standard and quality of my treatments. In truth, I’ve paid a whole lot more for worse. The students were extremely conscientious and a supervisor checked in at the end of each treatment to ensure I was happy and each procedure was performed correctly. And I was asked to give each student a score. If only every beauty salon in London was as interested in customer feedback and satisfaction…
Total spent: £15
Cost of treatment at usual beauty salon: £60
Total saved: £45Posted in Bargains & Markets, Beauty
